* The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for June 2010 was the warmest on record at 16.2°C (61.1°F), which is 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the 20th century average of 15.5°C (59.9°F). The previous record for June was set in 2005.* June 2010 was the fourth consecutive warmest month on record (March, April, and May 2010 were also the warmest on record). This was the 304th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average. The last month with below-average temperature was February 1985.* The June worldwide averaged land surface temperature was 1.07°C (1.93°F) above the 20th century average of 13.3°C (55.9°F)—the warmest on record.* It was the warmest April–June (three-month period) on record for the global land and ocean temperature and the land-only temperature. The three-month period was the second warmest for the world’s oceans, behind 1998.* It was the warmest June and April–June on record for the Northern Hemisphere as a whole and all land areas of the Northern Hemisphere.* It was the warmest January–June on record for the global land and ocean temperature. The worldwide land on average had its second warmest January–June, behind 2007. The worldwide averaged ocean temperature was the second warmest January–June, behind 1998.* Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean continued to decrease during June 2010. According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, La Niña conditions are likely to develop during the Northern Hemisphere summer 2010.

A woman’s place in the Catholic Church has been re-enforced with the latest update of church rules by the Vatican which adds “attempted ordination of women” to the list of most serious crimes against church law. The rules update now makes attempting to ordain a woman a crime against Catholicism on par with a sexual offenses against a minor.

The Vatican is preparing to update the 2001 norms that deal with priestly sex abuse of minors, in effect codifying practices that have been in place for several years.

At the same time, it will include the “attempted ordination of women” among the list of most serious crimes against church law, or “delicta graviora,” sources said.

Sexual abuse of a minor by a priest was added to the classification of “delicta graviora” in 2001. At that time the Vatican established norms to govern the handling of such cases.

Provides an interesting perspective on the feelings towards women from the ultimate “boys club” also known as the Vatican doesn’t it?

Letter: Believe in God PartyThe United States for years has had two political parties: Democrat and Republican.

During President Abraham Lincoln’s time, the Whig party was prominent. Recently, the tea party had notable candidates. My idea is that we could have a party called the Believe in God Party.

To my way of thinking, this party would not contradict any of our constitutional laws. I do not have the knowledge to establish this party. However, I am sure the expertise to do this exists among those who read this letter and take an interest in seeing it to its completion.

Membership in this party would come from conservative thinkers.

Please feel free to call me if you chose to take on this project.

Doesn’t this already exist, you know a church?

Would I have to take a test on bible knowledge, sort of like being confirmed, before I could be in this party? Would our leaders/candidates have to be celibate like the Catholics? Could a woman run? What if you are gay?

Somebody please get this going, I really want to see how it shakes out.

This is a purely personal post that I felt the need to write in response to the whole Lebron James “The Decision” debacle last night on ESPN.

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a die hard Cleveland sports fan. It doesn’t matter what sport, if Cleveland has a team I follow them without fail. So what happened last night was just the latest disappointment in a lifetime of disappointments. I grew up following Cleveland sports so I expected LeBron James to chose to leave because that is what athletes do in Cleveland. So believe it or not this isn’t going to be the greedy athlete screws over a city post.

Don’t get me wrong, while I understand James choosing to leave, he did screw Cleveland over. The way that he broke up with us on national TV will never be forgiven and earns him a place near the top of the list of most despised figures in Cleveland sports right behind Art Model. What happened afterwards though I think is much worse and should have Cleveland and Cavs fans feeling embarrassed and angry.

Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, posted an open letter to Cavs fans late last night after the announcement that was filled with childish name calling and finger pointing which was more fitting for a 12 year old than a millionaire businessman and NBA owner. His rant, posted below, in my mind did just as much damage to the Cavs and to Cleveland’s reputation as did Lebron’s choosing to sign in Miami in front of millions of viewers and provides another reason for players to want to stay away from Cleveland.

It is bad enough that we already have to deal with the less than flattering rust belt image, the “mistake by the lake” moniker, the burning Cuyahoga River, and crappy winters. Heck even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, one of the few Cleveland landmarks, holds their induction ceremony in New York instead of on location so who wouldn’t want to move to Miami if given a choice? But to top it off our NBA team will now have to deal with one more hurdle, a childish and vindictive owner with no grasp of reality. Seriously, a championship in Cleveland before Lebron wins one in Miami? Whatever you are smoking, I want some…

So Dan Gilbert thank you for making me feel embarrassed to be from Cleveland.

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And “who” we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called “curse” on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day….

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue….

Dan GilbertMajority OwnerCleveland Cavaliers

Oh and Dan, whats up with the Comic Sans font (see original link above), did you not have Wing Dings available?

Oregon (Reuters) – Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix edged out Tyson Gay in the former world champion’s hotly-anticipated return to the 200 meters at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting on Saturday.

Kevin Gray, a priest at Sacred Heart Church in Waterbury, Connecticut, is expected to turn himself in after being charged with siphoning $1.3 million from church coffers to pay for his secret gay lifestyle.After a lengthy investigation, the authorities have charged Gray with first-degree larceny, which could carry a 20-year sentence if he’s eventually convicted.

Apparently for the past seven years Gray has been spending church money to fund trips to New York and pay for sessions with male escorts, and he also racked up $200,000 in restaurant bills including a large tab at Tavern on the Green.